Health

Ethnic patterns of childhood cancer in Hawaii between 1960 and 1984

Article Abstract:

Since 1973, the National Cancer Institute has been supervising the collection of cancer data as a part of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Participation in the SEER program ensures uniformity of data collection and provides a basis for comparison. Data obtained from the Hawaii Tumor Registry, a SEER participant, was used to tabulate the rates of childhood cancers in Hawaii between 1960 and 1984. The data confirm that leukemia is by far the most common childhood cancer, accounting for a third of all cases. The overall rates of cancer were comparable between Hawaii and other areas with SEER programs. Unfortunately, the relative rarity of childhood cancer prevented many of the observed differences among ethnic groups from becoming statistically significant. Several observations can be made, however. The incidence of cancer for females in all five major Hawaiian ethnic groups was lower than that for the general white population of the United States. The leukemia rate was lower for US whites than for all ethnic groups except Japanese. A disturbing feature of the data was the apparent increase in cancer incidence, during the study period, for several groups. The increase in incidence was statistically significant for white males and Hawaiian females. The incidence also rose for white females and Hawaiian males, though not significantly. The rate also rose, again not significantly, for Filipino males, and Japanese of both sexes. The incidence of cancer fell for Filipino females and both male and female Chinese. The disturbing increases in cancer incidence seem to be widening among ethnic groups and will require further monitoring. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Cancer risks among Missouri farmers

Article Abstract:

The overall incidence of cancer among farmers is low when compared with that of people working in other occupations. However, this group may have an increased risk for developing certain cancers, such as lymphatic and blood cancers. The use of carcinogenic agricultural chemicals and environmental factors, such as animal viruses, is thought to contribute to this increased risk. The study evaluated cancer risk of Missouri farmers. Out of 15,000 males registered in the statewide cancer registry between 1984 and 1988, 1,720 were farmers. The incidence of lip cancer was the highest with an odds ratio of 3.07 (the likelihood of getting the disease), followed by bone cancer (2.02). The farmers were also at a higher risk for developing cancer in the nose cavities and sinuses (1.66), prostate (1.33), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (1.40), multiple myeloma (1.40), rectum (1.21), liver (1.19), malignant melanoma (1.26), kidney (1.21), and leukemia (1.12). The results regarding cancers of the lymph and blood are consistent with other reports with an overall odds ratio of 1.28. There was a decrease in the incidence of lung cancer. The high rate of lip cancer is probably associated with an increased exposure to the sun. The use of herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers has increased over the years. However, no studies have shown a correlation between the use of these chemicals and an increased risk for cancer. The increased exposure to viruses found in farm animals and prolonged exposure to allergens may cause changes in the immune system which could lead to the development of blood and lymph cancers. It is not known why there is an increase in bone cancer among farmers. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Relationship between occupation and lung cancer as analyzed by age and histologic type

Article Abstract:

Although many studies have examined increased risk of lung cancer associated with some occupations, these studies have not always differentiated between the many histological types of lung cancer. This may be important, since some environmental hazards may increase the risk only to a particular type of lung cancer. Using information from the Finnish Cancer Registry from 1971 to 1980, the relative risk increases were determined for various occupations. Overall, when the 38 high-risk occupations were grouped together, the distribution of different types of cancer was not different from the general population. However, a few individual occupations had their own special lung cancer risks. Young farmers had a higher risk of small cell carcinoma than did either older farmers or working men in general. Miners and quarriers had an especially high risk of small cell carcinoma. Servicemen and metal industry repairmen were more likely to develop epidermoid carcinoma, as were welders. Surprisingly, the risk of small cell carcinoma among welders was actually less than expected, although the reduction was not statistically significant. Since occupations like serviceman or metal industry repairman tend to be very heterogeneous, it may be difficult to identify the factors responsible for the increased relative risk. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)